Hunter Dozier

Hunter William Dozier (born August 22, 1991) is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent. The Kansas City Royals selected Dozier eighth overall in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft after he played college baseball at Stephen F. Austin State University. He made his MLB debut in 2016.

Hunter Dozier
Dozier with the Kansas City Royals in 2018
Free agent
Third baseman / First baseman / Outfielder
Born: (1991-08-22) August 22, 1991
Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 12, 2016, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.238
Home runs73
Runs batted in235
Teams

Amateur career

Dozier attended Denton High School in Denton, Texas, where he played for the school's baseball and American football teams;[1][2] Dozier played shortstop for the baseball team and quarterback in football. His football career was hampered by a broken collarbone in his junior year. He focused on baseball in his senior year of high school having intention to play college baseball.[3]

Dozier went on to Stephen F. Austin State University, where he played college baseball for the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks baseball team. In 2013, he was named the Southland Conference Player of the Year[4] and a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, given annually to the best shortstop in college baseball.[5]

Professional career

The Royals selected Dozier with the eighth overall selection in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. Dozier signed with the Royals for a $2.2 million signing bonus, below the slot value of $3,117,800 allotted for the pick.[6] He reported to the Royals' Arizona League complex before joining the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Rookie-level Pioneer League.[4] He was promoted to the Lexington Legends of the Single-A South Atlantic League in August. In 69 games between Idaho Falls and Lexington, he batted .308 with seven home runs and 52 RBIs.

Dozier began the 2014 season with the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the High-A Carolina League. On June 18, the Royals promoted him to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Double-A Texas League.[7][8] In 130 games between the two clubs he hit .251 with eight home runs and 60 RBIs. Dozier spent the 2015 season with Northwest Arkansas, compiling a .213 batting average with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs in 128 games.. He returned there to begin the 2016 season before receiving a promotion to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in May.[9] Dozier appeared in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game.[10] In 129 games between Northwest Arkansas and Omaha, he slashed .296/.366/.533 with 23 home runs and 75 RBIs.[11]

Dozier with the Royals in 2019

The Royals promoted Dozier to the major leagues on September 2, 2016.[12] He made his major league debut on September 12.[13] He recorded his first major league hit on September 16.[14] Dozier began the 2017 season with Omaha. He missed the beginning of the season with a strained oblique muscle, and after playing in ten games, broke the hamate bone in his wrist in June.[15] He played a total of 33 games in the minor league regular season, and was not called up to the major leagues as a part of their September call-ups.[16] After the regular season, he played for the Naranjeros de Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific League.[17] Dozier began 2018 with Omaha and was recalled by Kansas City on May 14. In 2019, Dozier hit .279 with 26 home runs and 84 RBI in 139 games. On July 22, 2020, it was announced that Dozier had tested positive for COVID-19.[18] Overall with the 2020 Kansas City Royals, Dozier batted .228 with six home runs and 12 RBIs in 44 games.[19]

On February 28, 2021, Dozier and the Royals agreed to a four-year, $25 million contract extension with a $10 million option for the 2025 season.[20] On May 14, 2021, Dozier was involved in a collision with Chicago White Sox first basemen José Abreu after Dozier hit a popup and collided with Abreu along the first base line. Both Dozier and Abreu left the game, and while Abreu returned to play the next day, Dozier was placed on the seven-day injured list.[21] Playing in a career-high 144 games, Dozier underwhelmed, hitting .216/.285/.394 with 16 home runs and 54 RBI.[22]

Dozier was one of ten Royals placed on the restricted list prior to a four-day road trip to play the Toronto Blue Jays in July 2022 because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19. Dozier said, "me personally, I don’t do any vaccines. I live a healthy lifestyle. I eat healthy, I work out. I want my body to naturally fight stuff off. I’m not against vaccines, so it’s just a personal preference. I’m not judging anyone who wanted to get it or who didn’t want to get it."[23] Dozier played in 128 games for the Royals in 2022, hitting .236/.292/.387 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI.[24]

In 2023, Dozier played in 29 games, but limped to a .183/.253/.305 batting line with 2 home runs and 9 RBI.[25] On May 22, 2023, the Royals designated Dozier for assignment.[26] On May 27, Dozier was released by Kansas City, with the Royals still owing him over $16 million from his 2021 extension.[27]

Personal life

Dozier and his wife, Amanda, have three children.[28][29] [30]

References
  1. Muench, Matthew (May 8, 2010). "Dozier headed to SFA on baseball scholarship". dallasnews.com. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  2. Muench, Matthew (August 20, 2009). "Football: New and improved Denton Broncos: DHS expects progress with more experience". dallasnews.com. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  3. "Passing on pitcher, Royals select SS Dozier at No. 8". MLB.com. June 6, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  4. "Royals ink deal with No. 1 Draft pick Dozier". MLB.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  5. "SFA's Dozier Named Finalist for Brooks Wallace Award". Southland Conference. Archived from the original on August 14, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  6. "Kansas City Royals sign first-round pick Hunter Dozier". ESPN.com. June 10, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  7. Kaegel, Dick (June 18, 2014). "Royals prospect Dozier advances to Double-A". MLB.com. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  8. Grathoff, Pete (June 21, 2014). "Defense of Kansas City Royals' prospect Hunter Dozier impresses his former manager". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  9. Dykstra, Sam (May 20, 2016). "Toolshed: Dozier undaunted by Triple-A: Royals No. 15 prospect promoted from Texas League after corrections". MiLB.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  10. Dodd, Rustin (July 10, 2016). "MLB Futures Game: Royals' Hunter Dozier has rehabilitated his prospect stock with breakout season". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  11. "Hunter Dozier Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  12. Boone, Tony (September 2, 2016). "Promotion to Royals a 'dream come true' for Hunter Dozier". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  13. RUSTIN DODDrdodd@kcstar.com (September 12, 2016). "Rookie Hunter Dozier finally makes his big-league debut for Royals | The Kansas City Star". Kansascity.com. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  14. Doddrdodd, Rustin (September 16, 2016). "Watch Kansas City Royals rookie Hunter Dozier's first hit | The Kansas City Star". Kansascity.com. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  15. Doddrdodd, Rustin (June 11, 2017). "Royals' Hunter Dozier on the disabled list with broken wrist | The Kansas City Star". Kansascity.com. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  16. Dodd, Rustin (September 18, 2017). "KC Royals Q&A: 2018 rotation, Hunter Dozier, Jarrod Dyson | The Kansas City Star". Kansascity.com. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  17. Torres, Maria (October 18, 2017). "Where KC Royals are playing winter ball 2017-18 | The Kansas City Star". Kansascity.com. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  18. "Kansas City Royals' infielder/outfielder Hunter Dozier tests positive for COVID-19". KMBC-TV. July 22, 2020.
  19. "Hunter Dozier Stats, Fantasy & News | Kansas City Royals". MLB.com.
  20. "Royals, Hunter Dozier Finalizing Four-Year Extension - MLB Trade Rumors". Archived from the original on February 28, 2021.
  21. "Abreu, Dozier exit after 'violent' collision". MLB.com. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  22. "Hunter Dozier's Leash May Be Much Shorter Heading Into 2022". si.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  23. "Royals place 10 players on restricted list ahead of Toronto trip". MLB.com.
  24. "It's Time to End Hunter Dozier's Tenure With the Royals". si.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  25. "Royals designate respected vet Dozier for assignment". mlb.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  26. "Royals' Hunter Dozier: Designated for assignment". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  27. "Royals release 3B/OF Hunter Dozier, still owe over $16M". espn.com. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  28. "Royals to send Hunter Dozier on rehab assignment | The Kansas City Star". Archived from the original on June 17, 2019.
  29. "Kansas City Royals Hunter Dozier and wife reveal gender of new baby on Instagram | FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports". December 31, 2018.
  30. "Royals Hunter Dozier shows off new baby in family picture | FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports". August 17, 2022.
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